FOLLOWER-BLOCK AND CLUTCH THEREFOR FOR CARD-INDEXES, DOCUMENT-FILES, &amp;c.



No. 788,301. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

0. ZIMMERLI. FOLLOWBR BLOCK AND CLUTCH THEREFOR FDR CARD INDEXES, DOCUMENT FILES, &0. APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1904.

NITED STATES Patented April 25, 1905.

CHARLES ZIMMERLI, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FOLLOWER-BLOCK AND CLUTCH THEREFOR FOR CARD-INDEXES, DOCUMENT-FILES, &C-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 788,301, dated April 25, 1905.

Application filed July 8, 1904. Serial No. 215,722.

To all whom, 771'; 117mm concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES ZIMMERLI, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Follower-Block and Clutch Therefor for Card-Indexes, Document-Files, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is the construction of a follower-block and clutch therefor which shall consist of as few parts as possible and one in which the follower-block proper and its supporting-slides for engaging the track-plate may be struck out by means of suitable dies from a single piece of sheet metal. The clutching or clamping plate for such a followerblock and the actuatingspring therefor I prefer to also construct from a single piece of metal, so that such combined follower-block and clutch therefor shall consist of only two pieces at the most besides the track and a connecting-rivet for such pieces when preferred.

In carrying out my invention I strike from a sheet of suitable metal a plate which shall have formed on one edge thereof a projection or projections capable of being bent so as to constitute a guiding member or guiding members for operation upon a suitable track-plate, and from this same sheet of metal, constituting, in effect, the follower-block proper, there is formed by bending outwardly from the plane thereof a portion which also in turn is formed so as to engage and operate upon the track. To such a follower-block when completely formed up I attach a piece of sheet metal which is formed up with a spring-tongue integral therewith and by means of which such clamp or clutching plate may also be secured to the proper face of the followings block.

It is ofcourse immaterial whether the trackplate on a card-index file or similar device havinga follower-block and clutch builtin accordance with my invention, be made with a single plate which is arranged to be encircled, preferably on its edges, and engaged by the slides carried by the follower-block or whether such track be formed so as to partially inclose and retain in operative position therein a sliding member or members attached to or forming part of the'follower-block.

The accompanying drawings, illustrating only afollower-block and guide-plate therefor made in accordance with my invention,- are as follows: Figure 1 is a front face view of the plate constituting my follower-block and before there has been struck and bent therefrom the portion thereof which is arranged to lie in a different plane and carry when properly formed up the member for engaging the track-plate. The portion thus to be bent and struck from the plate of my follower is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows a complete rear View of a followerblock and clutch or clamping plate thereto attached, all in operative position upon a suitable track-plate. Fig. 3 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 as seen from the left. Fig. i is a rear face view of the clampingplate and spring, while Fig. 5 is a View of such plate as seen from the left in Fig. 4. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show modified details to be explained.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, my followerblock consists of a plate of suitable sheet metal A, struck out, by means of suitable dies, to the form indicated in Fig. 1. The downwardly-extending neck T is bent, as indicated in Fig. 3, outwardly, and the projections 25 and t thereon are bent, as indicated also in Fig. 3, for the projection 6, so as to inclose the guide or track R. From the plane of the plate A as seen in Fig. 1 there is out a portion such as indicated by the dotted lines inclosing the part designated by the letters of reference a 12/ n a, the cut therefor extending perhaps slightly below the center of the main bodyportion of the plate A, constituting my follower-block. This portion designated by the letters of reference a, 92', a, and a is bent backwardly and downwardly from the plane of the plate A as indicated at a, a, a, and a in Fig. 2 and at a and n in Fig. 3. The projections a and a and a portion of the plate between them are first bent outwardly and rearwardly to a horizontal position, or nearly so, and then the projections a and nare bent around in the manner indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, so that they will inclose the edges .of and slide upon the track-plate R. Myfollowerblock then consists in a plate of metal having a member formed thereon engaging a suitable track-plate and having also a portion bent from the normal plane of such follower-block and carrying another member also arranged to engage and work upon preferably the same track-plate, but at different points longitudinally of such track-plate from the member engaging such track-plate and formed on the main or body portion of the follower-block.

A central portion 6 of my follower-block is allowed to remain, as it will at once be understood, in the normal plane of the body of such block, and to this central portion 5 there is secured the combined spring and clutching or clamping plate S, constructed in the manner following-that is to say, the plate S is bent slightly above its center vertically and has formed at such bend a slight corrugation or ridge. From the body of this clamping-plate S and previous to its being bent in the manner just above described there is struck the tongue or spring portion .9, the upper end of which may be secured to the central portion 6 of the following-block A by means of a suitable screw or rivet 0 entering the hole seen therefor in the upper end of this tongues and also the suitably-located hole therefor in the portion 6 of the follower A.

Refer now to Figs. 6, 7, and 8, which show in rear face views a modified method of attaching the spring-plate a to the back of the follower-block proper. In this case the springtongue .9 is notched out on the sides and near its upper end, as seen at e in Fig. 6, and the central portion 6 of the follower-block has forced outwardly and rearwardly therefrom the two lugs Z Z, arranged to engage the notches e e in the spring a when such spring a is properly located in position, after which the lugs Z Zare forced downwardly over and against the rear side of the spring a, as indicated in Fig. 8. This method of securing the clamping-plate and its spring to the body of the follower-block is in many respects superior to the rivet or screw, as it leaves the working or front side of the followerblock smooth and even. Suitable holes 0 and 0 may be provided in the follower-block and in the clamping-plate to permit of the use of such mechanisms in connection with card-indexes having the usual retaining-rod therein for retaining the cards in the drawer.

The operation of my follower-block and clutch is as follows: After the follower-block has been formed up, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and a clamping or clutching plate S has been attached theretoin either manner shown the follower-block is inserted over the track R, and the track may be then screwed into its proper place in any suitable card-index or file drawer, and the normal action of the spring is such, it will at once be understood, as to force the upper end of the clamping-plate S to the rear that is, toward the observer as seen in Fig. 2 and to the right as seen in Fig. 3--causing the-lower end of such plate S to engage by frictional contact therewith the upper surface of the track or guide R, preventing thereby a movement of the follower-block A to the rear in the file or drawer, or to the right as seen in Fig. 3, or toward the observer as seen in Fig. 2. By grasping the upper edge of the plate A and the upper end of the clutching or clamping plate between the thumb and finger and forcing them together the lower end of the plate S is thereby released from engagement with the track or guide R, and the follower-block A may then be moved either forwardly or rearwardly to the desired position, when upon releasing the upper end of the clamping or clutching plate S the parts are immediately caused to assume the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, firmly clamping the follower-block A in its desired position on the track or guide R.

I desire to call attention to the fact that on my follower-block there are formed two different members which are arranged to engage the track plate at correspondingly-difl'erent points longitudinally thereon. and by the use of the word correspondingly in this connection I mean that each of such members engages the track-plate' at its own respective point and different from that engaged by the other and that such members therefore engage such track at correspondingly-diflerent points.

What I claim is 1. A track, a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having its main body portion extending in a plane transversely or nearly so of such track and formed integrally with and bent from the normal plane of the main body of such follower-block at different points thereon two members arranged to engage such track at points correspondingly different and separated longitudinally thereon.

2. A track, a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having its main body portion extending in aplane transversely or nearly so of such track and formed integrally with and bent from the normal plane of the main body of such follower-block and in different planes two members arranged to engage such track at points correspondingly different and separated longitudinally thereon. 3. A track, a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having its main body portion extending in a plane transversely or nearly so of such track and formed integrally with and each bent from the normal plane of the main body of such follower-block two different inembers arranged to engage such track at points correspondingly difierent and separated longitudinally thereon.

4:. A track, a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having its main body portion extending in a plane transversely or nearly so of such track, having formed on one edge thereof a member arranged to engage such track and having bent away from the normal plane of the main body portion of such follower-block a second and different member arranged also to engage such track at a different point longitudinally thereon from that engaged by such first member.

5. A track, a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having its main body portion extending in a plane transversely or nearly so of such track, formed'integrally with and bent from the normal plane of the main body of such follower-block at different points thereon two members arranged to engage such track at points correspondingly different and separated longitudinally thereon and a clamping-plate connected to such follower-block and arranged to engage such track at a point thereon longitudinally between the points of engagement thereof with such two members.

6. A track, a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having its main body portion extendingin a plane transversely or nearly so of such track, formed integrally with and bent from the normal plane of the main body of such follower-block and in different planes two members arranged to engage such track at points correspondingly different and separated longitudinally thereon and a clamping-plate connected to such follower-block and arranged to engage such track at a point thereon longitudinally between the points of engagement thereof with such two members.

7. A track, a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having its main body portion extending in a plane transversely or nearly so of such track, formed integrally with and each bent from the normal plane of the -main body of such follower-block two different members arranged to engage such track at points correspondingly different and separated longitudinally thereon and a clamp ing-plate connected to such follower-block and arranged to engage such track at a point thereon longitudinally between the points of engagement thereof with such two members.

8. A track, a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having its main body portion extending in a plane transversely or nearly so of such track, having formed on one edge thereof a first member arranged to engage such track and having bent away from the normal plane of the main body portion of such follower-block a second and different member arranged also to engage such track at a different point longitudinally thereon from that engaged by such first member and a clamping-plate connected to such followervblock and arranged to engage such track at a point thereon longitudinally between the points of engagement thereof with such first and second members.

9. A track and a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having formed thereon two members arranged to engage such track at two correspondingly-difl erent points longitudinally thereof, and a clamping-plate attached to such follower-block by means of a spring-tongue pressed outwardly from the normal plane of such clamping-plate, such tongue extending obliquely from near the lower'end of such clamping-plate toward its connection with such follower-block plate and constituting also a spring for normally hold- "ing such clamping-plate in engagement with such track.

10. A track and a follower-block arranged to slide thefeon,such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having formed on one edge thereof a member arranged to engage such track and having pressed out and away from the normal plane of such follower-block a second member arranged also to engage such track at a different point longitudinally thereon from that engagedby such first-named member and a clamping-plate attached to such follower-block by means of a spring-tongue pressed outwardly from the normal plane of such clamping-plate, such tongue extending obliquely from near the lower end of such clamping-plate toward its connection with such follower-block plate and constituting also a spring for normally holding such clampingplate in engagement with such track.

11. A track and a follower-block arranged to slide thereon,such follower-block consisting in a sheet of metal having formed thereon two members arranged to engage such track at two correspondinglydiiferent points longitudinally thereof, and a clamping-plate at-' tached to such follower-block by means of a spring-tongue pressed outwardly from the normal plane of such clamping-plate, such tongue extending obliquely from near the lower end of such clamping-plate toward its connection with such follower-block plate and constituting also a spring for normally holding such clamping-plate in engagement with such track, such clamping-plate arranged to engage such track at a point longitudinally thereon between the engagement thereof with the two members on such follower-block.

12. A track and a follower-block arranged to slide thereon,such follower-block consisting in a sheet of suitable material having formed on IIO one edge thereof a member arranged to engage such track and having pressed out and away from the normal plane of such follower-block a second member arranged also to engage such track at a different point longitudinally thereon from that engaged by such first-named member and aclamping-plate attached to such follower-block by means of a spring-tongue pressed outwardly from the normal plane of such clamping-plate, such tongue extending obliquely from near the lower end of such clamping-plate toward its connection With such follower-block plate and constituting also a spring for normally holding such clampingplate in engagement with such track, such clamping-plate arranged to engage such track at a point longitudinally thereon between the engagement thereof with the two members on such follower-block.

13. A track and a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, a clamping-plate connected to such follower-block for engaging such track, such clamping-plate consisting in a sheet of metal having struck therefrom a springtongue such spring-tongue attached to such' follower-block and constituting a connection ing such track, a connection between such clamping-plate and such follower-block comprising a spring-tongue operating to force such clamping-plate into engagement with such track and arranged to receive the stress exerted in such clamping action between such follower-block and such track.

15. A track and a follower-block arranged to slide thereon, a clamping-plate connected to such follower-block for engaging such track, such clamping-plate comprising a plate of suitable elastic material fulcrumed against such follower-block and carrying a spring-tongue having its free end attached to such followerblock and operating to force such clampingplate into engagement with such track.

CHARLES ZIMMERLI.

Witnesses:

CLARA M. SIENER, OSBORNE F. GURNEY. 

